Self-winding timepiece



March 3, 1931. G. JACOT 1,794,622

SELF WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed Nov. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 3, 1931. G. JACOT SELF WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed Nov. 26. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGES J'AGOT, OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BULOVA WATCH COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SELF-WINDING TIMEPIECE Application filed November 26, 1930. Serial No. 498,454.

Self-winding watches are known in which winding mechanism is actuated by an inertia weight which is freely movable in relation to the case and movement of the watch. In such time-pieces the weight has been movable in a single plane, and the actuation of the winding mechanism has been effected by displacement of the weight in one direction, the return movement of the weight being idle.

The object of this invention is to secure a greater number of winding impulses. In the time-piece herein disclosed the weight is free to move in more than one plane and by these diverse movements actuates the winding mechanism. It is also a feature of the invention that movements of the weight in both of opposite directions even in a single plane impart winding impulses The weight is preferably suspended for universal swinging movement means being provided whereby the winding mechanism is made effective by swinging of the pendulum in two or more planes. The pendulum is preferably also capable of bodily vertical movement, which can likewise be utilized to produce a winding action.

The invention finds special utility in clocks for automobiles, the numerous impulses given to the winding mechanism in the periods of operation of the car serving to store power in the main-spring of an eight-day movement, for example, so that the clock will continue to run notwithstanding that the car may not be used for several days at a time.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present preferred form of the invention as an example of a desirable embodiment of the essential novelty. In the said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a clock containing this embodiment, the pendulum being shown in vertical position in full lines and at extremes of forward and rearward oscillation in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with the back removed, the pendulum being shown in full lines at one extreme of sidewise oscillation, and in broken lines at the other extreme; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view looking in the direction indicated by the arrows of the line .33 of Fig. 1.

The case of the clock is marked 2, and 3 is the movement fixed in the case. The movement need not be illustrated or described in detail, but the barrel 4 with its gear rim 4 is indicated.

The rear part of the case encloses a pendulum chamber 5 of considerable size, and in this chamber there is suspended a pendulum comprising a stem 6 and a weight 7 On the upper end of said stem there is a socketed head 8 having a movement-imparting member preferably formed as a circular flange or top 9. A socket bushing 10 held in the head by a screw 11 engages a ball 12 on the lower end of a fixed support illustrated as a rod 13 projecting downward from the top of the case. In this way the pendulum and the head 8, with its flange 9, in effect form a bell crank lever, supported in such manner that it is unrestrainedly free to swing and operate in at least two planes as indicated, and in addition the ball socket 14 can be made deep enough, as shown, so that the pendulum can move vertically as well.

An operating member or collar 15 is loosely mounted, so as to be slidable on. the rod13 and has a face, preferably formed by a circular flange 16, which rests upon the top face of the pendulum head 8. Consequently when the pendulum swings in any direction relatively to the case, the operating member 15, by reason of the abutting engagement of the flanges 9 and 16 is moved always in one direction. As shown in Fig. 1, it is moved up ward.

The collar 15 is arranged to bear against a projection 17 extending from an actuator member, shown as a lever 18, which is pivoted at 19 to a fixed support. This lever is connected by a link 20 to an oscillatory arm 21, which is swung on a shaft 22, this shaft being supported at its ends in the back plate of the movement and in a supplementary plate or bracket 23. It is desirable to provide a spring 24 to urge the arm 21 to its lower limit of movement.

A11 actuating pawl 25 has a pivot stud 26, which is movable bodily, as well as capable of turning, in a slot 27 in the arm 21, the slot being concentric with the center 22. A spring 28 carried by the arm 21 bears' against the stud 26 to constitute an actuating connection which is capable of yielding to prevent injury by overwinding, the arm 21 then. moving relatively to the pawl as permitted by the slot 27. An overwindmgpreventive of this character is covered by Letters Patent No.

1,789,043 issued Januar 13, 1931 on a co I pending application filed February 10,1930.

nspring 29 urges the pawl toward the ratchet wheel 30. A holding pawl. 31 is pivoted on the plate 23 and is pressed by a spring 32. V I

The ratchet wheel and a pinion 33 united with it are supported on the shaft 22, and the pinion 33 meshes with an intermediate. gear Wheel 34, which in turn is united'with a pinion 35, the last meshing with a gear wheel 36 connected to the main spring inside; of the tion and deceleration, side sway, centrifugal force resulting from steering out of a straight line, moderate shocks and jolting, will displace the pendulum relatively to the case, and that notwithstanding the diverse directions in which the pendulum is swung it will actuate the part 15, and thereby the remainder of the winding mechanism, in the same manner,

so as to transmit winding impulses to the mainspring at frequent intervals during the operation of the car. The pendulum is preferably free to swing in all directions within 360, though that is not absolutely essential, since the advantages of the invention can be partially realized bysuspending the winding weight or relating it to the winding mechanism in such manner that movements of the pendulum in certain directions only will effect winding. Considering movement of the pendulum in one plane only, it will be observed that two winding impulses are produced for each complete oscillation of the weight.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be understood that the form of execution may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a time piece, winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, movably mounted means supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement so that it is free I winding mechanism.

for dis lacement in more than one lane and means positioned to be engaged by said support1n neans and operated thereby during displacements of said rod for actuating said 7 2. In a time piece, winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, movably mounted means for suspending said rod for.universal.pivotal movement and also for free longitudinal movements, and means 3081- tioned to be engaged by said suspension means and operated thereby during displacements of said rod for actuating said winding mechanism.

3. In a time piece, winding mechanism, a.

rod havinga weight secured thereto, amovably mounted member having means for suspending said rodso that it is free for displacement in more than one plane, said member having an annular flange, and means poisitioned to-be engaged by said'fiange during displacements of said rod for actuating said winding mechanism.

4. In a time piece, winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, a socket secured to said rod, means for mo'vably supporting said socket so that said rod is free for displacement in more than one plane, and means positioned to be engaged by said socket during displacements of said rod, so as to actuate said winding mechanism.

5. In a time piece, winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, a socket secured to said rod, suspension means for movably supporting said socket, so that said rod is free for universal pivotal movement, a flange on'said socket, and means positioned to be engaged and operated by said flange during displacements of said rod for actuating said winding mechanism.

6. In a time piece, winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, a socket secured to said rod, suspension means for movably supporting said socket so that the rod is free for longitudinal and universal pivotal movement, and means positioned to be engaged and moved by said socket during displacements of said rod for actuating said winding mechanism.

7. In atime piece,windingmechanism, a rod having aweight secured thereto, a movably mounted member having means supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement, an operating member foractuating said winding mechanism, said supporting means having a flange engaging said operating member, so that movements are imparted to said operating member by displacements of said rod.

v8. In a time piece, winding mechanism, an operating. member for said winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, means supporting said rod for longitudinaland universal pivotal displacement, and means operated by displacements of said rod for actuating said winding mechanism.

as I

9. In a timepiece, Winding mechanism, a lever for actuating said Winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, movably mounted means supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement, and means positioned to be engaged by said supporting means and operated thereby during displacements of said rod for moving said lever so as to operate said winding mechanism.

10. In a time piece, Winding mechanism, a lever for actuating said winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, movably mounted means supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement, and an operating member for said lever provided with a flange, said movably mounted means engaging said flange so that movement will be imparted to the operating member by displacements of said rod.

11. I11 a time piece, winding mechanism, a lever for actuating said winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, movably mounted means supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement, and an operating member for said lever provided with a flange, said movably mounted supporting means having a complemental flange engaging the flange of said operating member so that movements are imparted to the operating member by displacements of said rod.

12. In a time piece, a casing, a fixed member suspended from said casing, a rod having a weight secured thereto, movably mounted means for suspending said rod from said fixed member for universal pivotal movement, a pivoted lever for actuating said winding mechanism, and an operating member for said lever slidably mounted on said fixed support, said supporting means engaging said operating member, so that movements will be imparted to said operating member by movements of said rod.

13. In a time piece, winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, a movably mounted member supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement, so that it is free for displacement in more than one plane, and a movably supported operating member positioned to be engaged by said supporting member and actuated thereby during displacements of said rod, so as to actuate said winding mechanism.

14;. In a time piece, a rod having a weight secured thereto, a movably mounted member supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement, said supporting means having means cooperating with said rod to produce a bell crank lever operable in more than one plane during displacements of said rod, and means positioned to be engaged by said bell crank lever and operated thereby during displacements of the rod, so as to actuate said Winding mechanism.

15. In a time piece, winding mechanism, a rod having a weight secured thereto, movably mounted means supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement, so that it is free for displacement in more than one plane, and an operating member for actuating said winding mechanism, said operating member having a flange positioned to be engaged by said supporting means, so that movements are imparted to said operating means during displacements of said rod.

16. In a time piece, a rod having a Weight secured thereto, a movably mounted member supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement, said supporting member having means cooperating with said rod to produce a bell crank lever operable in more than one plane during displacements of said rod, and an operating member for actuating said mechanism, said operating member having a flange positioned to be engaged by said bell crank lever so that said operating member is actuated during displacements of said rod.

17. In a time piece, a spring Winding ele' ment, a rod, a weight secured to said rod, means supporting said rod for universal pivotal movement so that it is free for displacement in more than one plane, means actuated by displacements of said rod for operating said Winding element, and means interposed between said operating means and said winding element for modifying the effeet of movementsof said operating means as applied to the Winding element.

GEORGES J ACOT. 

